Ironing machine



May 4, 1937. w. F. OLIVER 2,079,301

'IRONING MACHINE Filed May 11, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WALL/ICE F 04/1/51? fy 1 m ATTORNEY.

May 4. 1937. w, OLIVER 2,079,301

' IRONING MACHINE Filed May 11, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 I5 INVENTOR. N v

WALLACE ft" 04/1/57? flr V ATTORNEY.

W. F. OLIVER May 4, 1937 IRONING MACHINE Filed May 11, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTO R. h ALLACEL OL/VEI? BY ATTORNEY.

y 1937. w. F. OLIVER 2,079,301

IRONING MACHINE Filed'May 11, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. WA L/4a: F OLIVE/P ATTORNEY.

W. F. OLIVER May 4, 1937.

IRONING MACHINE Filed May 11, 1953 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 W 5 1 5 A, a: L M 5 Lf .1 N 1|| 1 g ll W Z [I I l l I l M FJFJU INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 4, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE moms. MACHINE Wallace F. Oliver, Detroit, Micln, assignor to Hydraulic Brake Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of California Application May 11, 1933, Serial No. 676,612

16 Claims.

- This invention relates to ironing machines and more particularly to: hydraulically actuated ironing machines.

Broadly the invention comprehends an ironing machine including relatively movable ironing elements and fluid pressure means for moving one of the elements into operative position and for moving the other element to create an ironing pressure between the elements. lo In the illustrated embodiment of the invention 1 a fluid pressure producingimeans is connected through expansible means to relatively movable ironing elements, one movable thereby into oper ative position and the other movable thereby to 1'5 create an ironing pressure between the elements. The expansible means is operable at a relatively low pressure for; moving one of the elements into operative position, and at a higher predetermined pressure for moving the other ironing element to 20 create an ironing pressure between the elements. A control means is provided for releasing the pressure on both of the expansible elements, also a safety means for releasing the pressure, and automatically operative means forreturning the- 25 elements to their'normal position upon release of pressure,

An object of the invention is to provide a hydraulically actuated ironing machine for home use;

Another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulically actuated ironing machine which is entirely automatic in its operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulically actuated ironing machine including 35 fluid pressure producing means and 'expansible means operatable thereby, and relatively movable ironing elements actuated by the expansible 'means, first to move one of the elements into operative position, and then to move the other 40 element to create an ironing pressure between the elements, ,such movements of the elements being automatic.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description taken iri connection 45 with the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section and partly broken way, of an ironing machineembodying the invention; Figure 2 isa sectional view substantially on line 2-'-2, Figure 1; Y l

Figure 3 is a'plan view partly in section;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of one ofthe cylinders and connections for raising and lowering 55 the head from the buck; r

, Figure 5 is an enlarged view' of one of the cylinders and associated parts for actuating the buck; F j

Figure 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the control valve;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the control valve;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the control valve;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9, Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the gear pump; Figure 11 is an end elevation of the gear pump, partly broken away and partly in section; Figure 12 is a fragmentary view of the gear Figure 13 is afragmentary view illustrating the I2 and end members [4 to provide a suitable sup- I port for a top IS. The members l2 have bolted or otherwise secured thereto a rectangular frame l8 having spaced members 20 extending upward through suitable openings in the top- IS. The members 20 have bifurcated ends 22 in which are pivoted corresponding arms to which is pivotally connected a head 26 adaptable for cooperation with a buck 28. r

The arms. are connected by springs 30 to brackets 32 secured on the back of themembers 20. These springs urge the arms 24' upward to raise the head from the buck; The springs 30 may be rendered ineffective when the machine is not in use by adjusting a thumb screw mounted in one of the members 20 to engage a plug 36 v formed on one of the arms 24.

The buck 28 is movable in a perpendicular plane through a suitable opening in the to'pflG. The base of the buck has suitably secured thereto pins 38 and 40 extending downward through openings in the frame l8, and sleeved on the pins between the base of the buck and shoulders formed in the openings in the frame are springs 42, for yieldingly supporting the buck. 4

The frame [8 has journaled thereon a transverse shaft 44, and keyed to the :respective ends of the shaft are bell crank levers 46 each having a short arm and a long arm. The long arms of the bell crank levers are connected by links 48 to the arms 24, the links 48 being of such structure as to house the springs 30. The short arms of the bell crank levers 46 are connected by toggles 50 to stub shafts 52 journaled in the frame I8. Each of the toggles 50 has a long leg and a short leg. The long legs of the toggles are pivoted to hell crank levers 46 and the short legs of the toggles are keyed to the stub shafts 52. The knees of thetoggles engage compression members, preferably springs 54, when the toggle is extended, that is, when the head 26 is in'engagement with the buck 28, and tension members, preferably springs 56, connect the stub shafts to the pivots connecting the long legs of the toggles to the short arms of the bell crank levers 46. The springs 54 serve to trip the toggle, and the springs 56 actuate the toggles to raise the head from the buck, this movement of the head being augmented by the springs 30. The stub shafts have keyed thereon arms 58 to which are pivotally connected rods 60 and 62, the object of which will hereinafter appear.

The actuating means include a suitable motor 64 supported by a stirrup suspended from the:

side member I2. The motor is suitably connected to a pump unit 66, also supported by the stirrup, and a drip pan 68 is supported by the side member I2 beneath the stirrup.

The pump includes a casing 10 providing a fluid reservoir 12 opened at its top. The casing has a cover plate 14, and is further provided with a filling opening closed as by a plug 16 and a drain opening closed by a plug 18. A transverse boss connects opposite walls of the casing near I the top thereof. This boss is bored to provide a pump chamber 82, a bearing 84 adjacent thereto, and a packing chamber 86 for the bearing. The packing chamber is transversely bored at 88, the object of which will hereinafter appear. An inlet passage extends from the bottom of the reservoir to the pump chamber 82 and an outlet passage 92 extends from the pump chamber to outlet passages 94 and 96, one of which, the outlet 96, is controlled by a spring-pressed valve 98.

A shaft I00 supported for rotation by the bearing 84 extends through the packing chamber 86,

and a packing nut I02 sleeved on the shaft and threaded in the packing chamber retains a packmg unit against displacement. This packing unit preferably includes spaced quantities of packing material I04 and I06 having interposed retainers I08 and H0, and a coil spring II2 between the retainers bridges the transverse passage 88, so that oil seeping past the packing.

I04 may freely return to the reservoir. This structure has a decided advantage in that there may be a very high pressure imposed on the packing I04, whereas only atmospheric pressure is on the packing I06.

The shaft I00 has formed thereon a crown gear II4 fitted closely in the pump cylinder 82, and a cover plate II6 for the open end of the pump chamber has a part extending into the cham-.

her. The cover plate supports a stub shaft Il8 on which is rotatably mounted a gear I20 in mesh with the crown gear II4. The shaft I00 is connected to the armature shaft of the motor 64 and is driven thereby to rotate the gears H4 and I20 in clockwise direction. As shown in F ure 11, the gears lift the fluid or liquid from the reservoir 12 through the intake passage 90 into the pump chamber 82 and discharge the fluid or liquid from the pump chamber through the reception of the pins 60 and 62 through which the arms 56 may be rocked to actuate the toggles 50 and, through the connections thereto, the head 26.

The outlet 96 is connected by a conduit I32 to an expansible means including a cylinder I34,

- which in turn is connected by a conduit I36 to another expansible means including a cylinder I38. The cylinders I34 and I38 have movable therein pistons I40 provided with leak-proof cups I42 held in position by coil springs interposed between the cups and the heads of the cylinders. The pistons have case-hardened inserts I44 for the reception of the pins 38 and 40 on the buck 28, through which the buck may be raised and lowered. The cylinder I28 is connected by a conduit I46 to a control valve housing I48, the cylinder I38 is connected by. a conduit I50 to the control valve housing I48, and a conduit I52 connects the control valve housing I48 to the reservoir 12.

. The control 'valve housing I48 includes a casting having a fiange by which the casting may be attached to the frame E8. The casting has parallel cylinders I54 and I56 and spring-pressed valves I58 and I60 arranged concentrically to the cylinders. The valve I56 controls a passage I62 communicating with the conduit I46 leading from the cylinder I28, and the valve I60 controls a passage I64 communicating with the conduit I50 leading from the cylinder I38. The cylinders I54 and I56 have ports I66 and I68 communicating with a passage I10 connected to the conduit I52 leading to the reservoir 12. The passage I64 has a branch passage I12 communicating with passage I10 andcontrolled by a have thereon leak-proof cups I80 and plungers I82 adapted to trip the valves I58 and I 60. The

Y plungers have secured thereon collars I84 and springs interposed between the collar and the heads of the cylinders serve to return the pistons. The pistons are actuated by a lever I 86 pivoted on the frame as at I88 and held in engagement with the pistons by a spring I90. The lever may be held in a depressed position by suitable means I92 attached to one of the uprights I0.

In operation, the head 26 is generally held in lowered position by a thumb screw 34 engaging a lug 36 on one of the arms 24 supporting the head 26. By adjusting the thumb screw 34 to. disengage the lug, the head is automatically raised from the buck, as will hereinafter be explained. The article to be ironed is then placed on the buck. The control valves are normally open. Accordingly, upon starting the motor 64 the pump 66 is actuated to deliver fluid from the reservoir 12 through the intake passage 90, the pump chamber 82, and the outlet passage. The fluid circulates from the'pump through branch passage 94, the conduit I22, to the cylinder I 24, through this cylinder and the conduit I26 to cylinder I28, through cylinder I28 and conduit I46 to the conmovement of the pistons therein resulting in movement of the rods 50 and 62 to rock the levers 58 keyed to the stub shafts 52, and thereby rotate the shafts 52, This rotation of the shafts 52 results in straightening the toggles 50. When the togglesare straightened they snap across the center to engage the compression springs 54.

The toggles 50 have long and short legs. The short legs of the toggles are keyed to the shafts 52 and the long legs of the toggles are pivoted to the short arms of the bell crank-levers 46, the long arms of which are pivoted to links 48 which in turn are pivoted to the arms 24 supporting the head 28. Hence, in straightening the toggles the bell crank levers are moved through an angle and this'movement is transmitted through the links 48 to the arms 24 resulting in lowering the head' 26 into operative position.

' After the head has been moved to operative position, the pressure builds up to a predetermined.

pressure, and trips the valve 98. The fluid now circulates through outlet 92 of the pump, branch outlet 96, and conduit I32 to cylinder I34, through this cylinder and conduit I36 to cylinder I38,

through this cylinder and conduit I58 to control valve housing I48, where the flow of the fluid is checked by the valve lit). The pressure in the cylinders I34 and I38 causes movement of the pistons I48 resulting in moving the buck 28 to engage the head with suflicient pressure between them to efiectively iron the work. The pressure continues to build up. However, should the pressure become too great, the safety valve I14 is actuatedat a predetermined pressure to return.

the fluid through the control valve housing I48 and conduit I52 to the reservoir.

Upon accomplishing the work, the operating lever I85 is released, whereupon the control valves are opened and the fluid circulates as before. As soon as the control valves are open, the compression spring 54 moves the knee of the toggle past center, whereupon springs 56 become efiective to actuate the toggles 50. This movement of the toggles moves the bell crank levers 46 through an angle and thereby imposes a pull through links 48 on arms 24. This pull on the arms 24 is augmented by the tension springs 30 connected between the arms 24 and the uprights, and results in raising the head 28 clear of the buck 28,

the action being entirely automatic.

' Although this invention hasbeendescribed in connection with certain ispeciflc embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible of numerous other applications that will readily occur to persons skilled in the art. The invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the'appended claims.

Having thus described the various features of the invention, what I claim as new and .desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

L-An ironing machine comprising a pair of ironing elements, an expansible means Iormoving one of the elements into operative position, expansible means for moving the other element to create an ironing pressure between the elements,

I24 and I28 causes means for supplying fluid under pressure to the expansible means and means operable only at a predetermined pressure to admit the fluid to the ting the fluid to the expansible means for actuating the buck only ata predetermined pressure in the expansible means for actuating the head.

3. An ironing machine comprising a head, a buck for cooperation therewith, expansible means for moving the head into operative position,

expansible means for moving the buck to create an ironing pressure between the head and the buck, pressure producing means for supplying fluid under pressure to the expansible means, and fluid actuated means connected to the pressure producing means for controlling admission of fluid to the expansible means for sequential operation. 4

4. An ironing machine comprising a pair of ironing elements, expansible means for moving one of the elements into operative position, ex-

pansible means for moving the other element to create an ironing pressure between the elements. compression means for supplying fluid under -pressure to the respective expansible means,

means controlling the flow of fluid through the respective expansible means, and means connected between the compression means and the last-mentioned expansible means and operable at a predetermined pressure to admit. the fluid to the last-mentioned expansible means.

5. An ironing machine comprising a pair of ironing elements, expansible means for moving one of the elements into operative position, expansible'means for moving the other element to create an ironing pressure between the elements,

' compression means for supplying fluid' under pressure to the respective expansible means, control means for checking the flow of fluid through therespective expansible means, means between the respective expansible means and the compression means operable at a predetermined pressure to admit fluid to the expansible means for actuating one of the elements, means to relieve pressure on the expansible means, and automatically operable means for returning the ironing elements to normal position upon release of pressure on the expansible means.

6. An ironing machine comprising a head and a buck, an expansible element for moving the head into operative position, an expansible element for moving the buck against the head to create an ironing pressure, compression means for supplying fluid under pressure to the expansible elements, control means for checking the .flow'of fluid through the expansibleelements, a

pressure actuated valve operable at a predetermined pressure to admit the fluid to the expansible element for actuating the buck, a valve for relieving pressure in the expansible elements, and ted means for returning the position.

7. An ironingmachine comprising a head and a buck,a pair of expansible elements for moving the head into operative position, a pair of expansible elements for moving the buck to create anironing pressure between the headand buck,

compression means for supplying fluid under pressure to both pairs of expansible elements, control valves for checking the flow of fluid through both pairs of expansible elements, a fluid pressure actuated valve operable at a predetermined pressure to admit fluid to one pair of the expansible elements, a valve for relieving pressure in the expansible elements, and spring. actuated means for returning the head to its normal position 10 upon release of pressure on the expansible elements. V

8. An ironing machine comprising a motor, a pump operated thereby, a fluid reservoir for the pump, an expansible element connected to the '15 pump, a second expansible element connected to to the pump,,a second pair of expansible elements connected to pump, cooperative ironing v elements operated respectively by the respective pairs of expansible elements, a pressure actuated valve connected'between the second pair of expansible elements and the pump, and control valves connected between the respective pairs ofexpansible elements and the reservoir for checking the flow of the fluid from the respective pairs of expansible elements back to the reservoir.

l0. An ironing machine comprising a motor, a pump operated thereby, two pairs of expansible elements connected to the pump, a pressure actuated valve connected between one pair of ex- "all y pansible elements and the pump, valves controlling the flow of fluid, cooperative ironing ele- -ments operated respectively by the respective pairs of expansible elements,- and spring-actuated means for returning one of the ironing elements 45 to its normal position upon release of pressure in the expansible elements.

11. An ironing machine comprising a frame having spaced uprights, a buck supported on the frame, arms pivoted to the uprmhts, a head sup- 50 ported by the arms for cooperation with the buck, tension members connecting the arms to the uprights, toggles on the frame, means for actuating the toggles, bell crank levers pivoted to the toggles, and links connecting the bell crank 55 levers to the arms supporting the head.

12. An ironing machine comprising a frame having spaced uprights,-a buck supported on the frame, arms pivoted to the uprights, a head pivoted to the arms for cooperation with the buck,

g tension members connecting the arms to the .up-

rights, bell crank levers pivoted on the frame, links connecting the bell crank levers to the arms.

toggles connected tothe bell crank levers, and Y means for, actuating the toggles including springs 55 connecting their respective ends.

13. An ironing machine comprising a frame having spaced uprights, a buck resiliently sup: ported on the frame, arms pivoted to the uprights, a head supported by the arms for cooperation with the buck, tension members connecting the arms to the uprights, a transverse shaft journaled on the frame, bell crank levers keyed to the shaft, links connecting the bell crank levers to the arms, stub shafts journaled on the frame,

,toggles connecting thestub shafts to the bell springs connecting the respective "ends of the.

toggles, and force applying. means connected to the stub shafts for actuating the toggles.

15. An ironing machine comprising a frame, a

buck resiliently supported on the frame, arms pivoted to the frame, a head supported by the arms for cooperation with the buck, tension members connecting the arms to the frame, a shaft journaled on the frame, bell crank levers on the shaft, links connecting the bell crank levers to the arms, stub shafts journaled on the frame, toggles connecting the stub shafts to the levers, springs connected between the respective ends of the toggles,fluid pressure means including expansible means for rocking the stub shafts. tomove the head into operative position, expansible-means for moving the buck to create an ironingpressure between the head and the.

buck, and a compression means for supplying fluid under pressure to the expansible means.

16. An ironing machine comprising a frame, a

buck resiliently supported thereon, arms pivoted to the frame, a head supported by the. arms for,

of the toggles, a pair of expansible elements for actuating the toggles to move the head into operative position,'another pair of expansible elements for moving the buck against the head to create an ironing pressure, means for supplying fluid under pressure to the expansible elements,-

and valves for controlling the flow of fluid through the expansible elements.

WALLACE OLIVER. 

